Are You a Smoker? Grab the Merlot.

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In the October issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, researchers make the case for a little vino with that cigarette — sort of.

Chun Chao, a research scientist at Kaiser Permanente Department of Research and Evaluation, found that moderate consumption of red wine may decrease the risk of lung cancer in men, according to the press release.

Chao is quoted in the article: "An antioxidant component in red wine may be protective of lung cancer, particularly among smokers."

Researchers analyzed data collected through the California Men's Health Study, and measured the effect of beer, red wine, white wine and liquor consumption on the risk of lung cancer. Among the study participants, there was on average a 2 percent lower lung cancer risk associated with each glass of red wine consumed per month, and the greatest risk reduction was among smokers who drank one to two glasses of red wine per day. This group experienced a 60 percent reduced lung cancer risk.

Of course, researchers warned that quitting smoking is still the best way to reduce lung cancer risk. In addition, Chao made clear that these findings are not intended to recommend heavy alcohol consumption.

Resveratrol, the compound found in red wine found to have significant health benefits, has received acclaim in the past. Recently a news article on the depletion of the traditional Mediterranean diet noted that in the 1990s scientists found people in Mediterranean countries lived longer and had low rates of serious disease, despite being active smokers and drinkers.

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